Hold your horses!
YOU may see more horses on the road during the summer months, and more than likely they’ll be on a country lane.
Here are IAM RoadSmart’s tips on how best to pass a horse safely on the roads.
Horses are powerful animals and have extremely heightened senses.
They are also ‘flight’ animals so if they become scared, they will revert back to their natural instinct.
The British Horse Society has reported that nearly two horses are killed each week on UK roads.
In last year alone, 87 horses and four people have been tragically killed. room to manoeuvre around the horse, the rider may decide to trot towards the nearest lay by or grass verge.
Do not speed up to match their trot, stay back and allow the rider to get to safety before over taking.
OFTEN when you see two riders it is for safety reasons.
This could be an inexperienced rider or nervous animal being coached along by a more experienced companion.
Give them some consideration.
KEEP an eye out for the rider.
They will often give you signals asking to slow down, stop or to overtake.
They will acknowledge you and assist you to pass, but their main priority is keeping themselves and the horse safe, so they’ll be trying to keep their hands on the reins at all times.
ALWAYS accelerate gently to pass the horse and when moving away.
Both rider and horse may both be inexperienced and nervous in traffic; do your bit to keep them safe.
IF there are grass verges, many riders will take the option to move themselves up onto them and allow you to pass.
Please continue to pass slowly as the noise of your engine can still spook the horse.
SLOW down completely and consider putting on your hazard warning lights for anyone that may be behind you.
You may need to stop to allow the horse to pass you safely, if it is safe to do so.
Horse rider and IAM RoadSmart’s digital content executive Jaimi McIlravey said: “Please continue to be careful when driving close to horses.
“From personal experience it’s not always a car that will spook a horse.
“You may be driving safely with enough gap between yourself and a horse and rider, however something else may scare them, so be sure to stay alert.”
If you see any incidents involving a horse and rider please contact the police with any information you have.
You’re also able to report an incident through this website: www.bhs.org.uk/ our-work/safety/reportan-incident.